DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. ? For the first time in head coach Joslynn Gallop's career and the first time in eleven seasons, the Embry-Riddle Eagles volleyball team opened up the season with five wins in a row. The win over Baker (Kan.) was highlighted by senior setter, Marissa Gonzales being named the Homewood Suites Invitational Most Valuable Player.
Gonzales notched 34 assists to her tournament total of 148. Freshman Abby Hall joined her on the All-Tournament team. Hall marked 56 kills in four games and led the Eagles with 12 against Baker.
Baker came off a four set win over Mountain State in the match before their contest against the Eagles, and took their momentum into the first set. They pulled away from the Eagles when the score was tied at 19, taking the game 25-20.
Sophomore Jenn Meglic stepped into the middle blockers position late in the second set and turned the Eagles momentum up, as she notched five kills and a service ace in the last ten points for ERAU. Her performance in game two earned her the starting spot for the rest of the match where she totaled 10 kills and two blocks.
The momentum from game two's tight victory brought the Eagles into an early lead and the team never looked back, taking the third game 25-17.
In the fourth set, a reversed call by the head official led Baker to go up 21-20 and the power to tie the sets at two.
The Eagles started the fifth set off with a 4-0 lead that led to a time out by Baker. Marissa Gonzales never faltered serving the first five points for the Blue and Gold while Alana Martinez took the game home by a huge kill to bring the set to game point. She then stepped behind the line and had a short service ace to close the game and hold onto the Eagles perfect record. Martinez ended the game with eight kills and two service aces.
This is the first time since 1997 that the Eagles have went undefeated in their first five games. In 1997 they went seven games into the season before suffering a loss to Palm Beach Atlantic.
Embry-Riddle will travel to San Diego, Calif. to play in the Pacific Coast Classic hosted by San Diego Christian next week. Their first game will take place on Friday, Sept. 5th against Bethany (Tenn.).
